A PIONEERING Scottish company, co-founded by a University of Edinburgh graduate who represented his native Thailand at the Copenhagen 2015 World Archery Championships, is deploying its wearable sports performance analysis technology at the Homeless World Cup in Mexico.

PlayerData, co-founded in 2015 by archer Roy Hotrabhvanon and Hayden Ball, will attach its latest tracking system to every player at the football tournament in November.

These units will relay data wirelessly to a base station, which will update the event tournament site in real time.

The data will enable players to analyse their performance, and will also provide coaches with insight at the tournament, which is organised by the Homeless World Cup Foundation social enterprise. PlayerData’s technology will measure the likes of distance run, speed, acceleration, attack versus defence percentage, and pitch coverage and player movement.

The 16th Homeless World Cup will host more than 500 players from in excess of 40 countries. It will feature around 400 games, across four purpose-built pitches.

It is expected that around 200,000 spectators will attend the event, with millions more watching the tournament online.

Mr Hotrabhvanon, who is 24 and built an early version of PlayerData’s technology at the University of Edinburgh’s Informatics School, said: “We’ve got big plans to make a real impact in wearable tech, in sports to begin with but we’re already examining other markets.”

He added: “It’s an exciting time for the team and our investors and, as we close in on the end of beta-testing with paying clients, it’s an honour and privilege to be partnering with such a well-respected global tournament as the Homeless World Cup.”

Mr Hotrabhvanon and Mr Ball, 23, who both graduated in 2016 in computer science and electronics from the University of Edinburgh, together own the majority of the pioneering wearable technology company.

PlayerData is backed by its chairman, Mike Welch, and his investment advisory firm Full Circle Partners, and by Sir Terry Leahy, former chief executive of supermarket giant Tesco. Mr Welch founded and built up Borders-based tyre business Blackcircles and sold it to French giant Michelin in a £50 million deal announced in 2015.

Mr Hotrabhvanon said Mr Welch had been an investor in PlayerData since December 2017.

Asked about the benefits of Edinburgh as a base for a technology business, Mr Hotrabhvanon replied: “Running a business in Edinburgh is great, there is a growing talent pool that is being recognised as some of Europe’s finest. It’s also an attractive place to live from a cost of living and quality of life perspective. Finally, the support ecosystem from SE (Scottish Enterprise) and the Scottish Government [is] also second to none.”

PlayerData said its product provides “best-of-class” data on biometrics, performance and technique for both individuals and teams.

It added that it is targeting high-value sports including football, cycling and golf, “in addition to other industry sectors over time, including gaming and healthcare”.

PlayerData noted that its strategy was to sell into clubs first, then directly to consumers.

On the question of whether he intended to try to compete for Thailand at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Mr Hotrabhvanon replied: “I did want to, but I think I am too late now to make a run at it. I am fortunate that archery is a sport where you peak in your 30s. I will definitely be shooting again once I have more time.”

Mel Young, co-founder of the Homeless World Cup Foundation, said: “We are really excited to be partnering with PlayerData. Their tech will offer our teams and fans an insight into teams’ performances like never before and I believe that this is the first of many exciting collaborations with them. We look forward to seeing the devices in action.”